Identity Theft

It is bad enough when you loose your keys or glasses.  What about when you loose your identity.

Modern thieves are not happy with break and enter into just our homes but now have the ability to break into our lives.  With the help of modern technology our modern day criminal can take on another person's identity, spend on their credit card, withdraw funds from their bank, and even subject lonely people to think they are a certain person when they are not that person at all.

Read more and discover how this new wave of crime is now possible and How You Can Better Protect the identity of you and your family.

Sophisticated IT

The new age of sophicated IT technology has made snooping easier.   Small businesses and individual people are at risk and should start to take a proactive approach to IT security both in the office and in the home.

Faced with constant warnings about the security risks of spam, viruses, spyware and worms, many people prefer to take the attitude the "It will never happen to me".  However, the main problem with technology snooping is that it can happen anywhere and anytime.

What is in your Wallet

Criminals are increasingly looking for specific personal information like credit card number,  financial information and passwords, and they are often prepared to go to any lengths to obtain them.

Snooping on keyboards is on the rise as a means to an end for thieves trying to access sensitive data.  The problem with keyboard snooping it that there are a number of snooping gadgets on the market these days that you may have thought only existed in movies like "James Bond"

One example involves a small and innocuous device that plugs in between a computer and a keyboard connector and acts as a storage unit that can capture and save everything that is typed.  Once the device is retrieved, a copy of everything, even text that's been deleted, can be accessed.  The scary thing is that there is currently no easy way to prevent key logging of this kind.

Who is Watching You While You Work??

It's not just the hi-tech code-cracker working through the night to crack the code and obtain confidential data.  Non-technical approaches, such as laptop 'shoulder surfing' often reap better quality results for thieves.

The person doing the shoulder snooping is usually looking over the shoulder of the person they are trying to obtain data from.  Shoulder surfing and various other snooping techniques have been known to occur in office environments, on public transport, and there is now a belief that mobile workers are being specifically targeted.

Many senior executive now rely heavily on laptop PCs to work on business information while they are out on the job.  But the laptop brings a number of risks that are in danger of being overlooked.

The best way to handle a suspected case of shoulder snooping is to move the screen away from view or even turn your laptop off. 

Who is Watching You While You Are At Home??

How many of us freely provide our credit card details for purchases either by phone or over the internet.

Most of us also use the internet to access their financial details and pay accounts.

The criminals who search the internet waves for secure personal information are the same criminals who are actively snooping or seeking ways to invade business and professional data. 

We are all at just as much risk, especially with many people switching to wireless access for the computers and laptops.

In an attempt to prevent Identity Theft, some Banks will be introducing more secure credit cards which contain a key pad.  This will enable the user to change pin nos. when required, or after each use. 

Toowoomba Home Loans will be holding a special Information Night in March or April 2009 (The date is yet to be finalised)

With Guest speakers talking on the subject of Identity Theft and How Best Prevent this type of theft happening to you.

Watch our website or check your emails as invitations will be sent both electronically or through Australia Post.

In the meantime be aware of how you use your sensitive information and what sources you are exposing this information to.

Remember the old saying  "If In Doubt  Don't"   post a cheque instead.